Car shaker



June 11, 1957 J. P. RAUSCH CAR SHAKER Filed Jan. '7, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheat 1 June 11, 1957 J. P. RAUS'CH 2,795,343

CAR SHAKER Filed Jan. 7, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 11, 1957 J. P. RAUSCH CAR SHAKER 7 She ets-Sheet s Filed Jan. 7, 1954 J-. P. RAUSCH June 11, 1957 CAR SHAKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 7, 1954 June 11, 1957 J. P. RAUSCH CAR SHAKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 7, 1954 June 11, 1957 J. P. RAUSCH CAR SHAKER Filed Jan. 7, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 11 1957 J. P. RAuscH CAR SHAKER 7 Shee ts-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 7, 1954 United States Patent CAR SHAKER John P. Rausch, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Link-Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application January 7, 1954, Serial No. 402,689

9 Claims. (Cl. 214-83.3)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vibrators for discharging hopper bottom containers,

and deals more particularly with unbalanced shaft 1 vibrators for unloading hopper bottom railway cars used for the transportation of coal, ore or the like.

One of the most diflicult problems encountered in designing unbalanced shaft vibrators for discharging hopper bottom railway cars results from the need for protecting the prime mover of the vibrator against the damage that can be caused by the transmission of shocks thereto from.

must be made depends very materially on the extent to which the prime mover is isolated from the effects of the impact blows.

It is the primary object of the invention to design an unbalanced shaft car vibrator so that the transmission of the destructive shocks to the prime mover from the main frame of the vibrator will be substantially eliminated.

A further important object of the invention is to so construct an unbalanced shaft car vibrator that the prime mover will be resiliently supported directly on the car being unloaded and will be connected to the main frame of the vibrator only sufiiciently to enable the prime mover to properly drive the unbalanced shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide an unbalanced shaft vibrator for discharging hopper bottom cars which has its prime mover resiliently supported directly on the car independently of the vibrator frame and is pivotally connected to the said frame for the purpose of controlling movements of the prime mover relative to the unbalanced shaft so as to maintain a proper driving relationship therebetween.

ice

motor mounting platform for a vibrator of the type illus trated in Fig. 1,

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the motor mounting platform illustrated in Fig. 9,

Figure 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 9, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the support bracket for the motor mounting platform illustrated in Fig. 9.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, and first particularly referring to Fig. 1, reference character 13 designates a hopper bottom railway car supported in a conventional manner by springs 14 on the wheeled trucks 15 and provided with gate controlled discharge openings 16 for unloading the coal 17 or other material which the car contains. The vibrator 18 is shown in an operative position with its end portions resting on the tops of the opposite side walls of the car 13.

Chains 19 are connected to the vibrator 18 for maintain-- ing it in the desired position on the car 13.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, for a detail description of the vibrator 18, reference character '21 designates a bridge, or main frame, which is rectangular in plan, and consists basically of two transverse I-beams 22 and 23 having their corresponding end portions connected by the horizontal plates 24. Vertical side plates 25 are suitably connected to the ends of the transverse beams 22 and 23 and to the outer edges of the horizontal plates 24.

Outer. retaining end plates 26 are connected to the outer flanges of the transverse beams 22 and 23 and depend from their lower flanges throughout the entire lengths of the beams. Short inner retaining plates 27 are connected to the inner flanges at each end portion of the I-beams 22 and 23 and depend from their lower flanges. The tops of the outer retaining plates 26 extend upwardly from the upper flanges of the beams 22 and 23 and are provided with openings 28 for connecting the chains 19 to the bridge 21, see Fig. 1. The bottom surface of each one of the I-beams 22 and 23 isprovided with a suitably connected impact shoe 29 at one side of the bridge 21, and a pivot shoe 31 at the other side of the bridge.

The length of the bridge 21 is such that the shoes 29 and 31 will rest on the tops of the side walls of the car 13. The bridge 21 will be prevented from moving later- Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a vibrator embodying this invention positioned for unloading a hopper bottom railway car,

Figure 2 is a top plan View Partly broken away of the plates 25. A stiffening brace 35 extends between the vibrator illustrated in Fig. 1, v

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the vibrator illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

ally off of the car by the depending retaining plates 26 and 27 which extend below the shoes 29 and 31.

Bearing support plates 32 are mounted vertically near the ends of the bridge 21 and are connected to the horizontal plates 24 and the vertical side plates 25. Stiffening flanges 33 are connected to the bottoms of the vertical plates 32 between the horizontal plates 24. Cover flanges 34 project laterally inwardly from the top edgesof the vertical plates 32 and extend between the vertical side 1 flanges 33 and 34 of each of the vertical plates 32 and Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

Figure dis a detail sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the I is connected to the flanges and the vertical plate.

Each of the bearing support plates 32 is provided with a reinforced opening near one side of the bridge 21 for receiving a roller bearing cartridge 36 which is fastened to the vertical plate by the bolts 37. A shaft38 extends between and is supported by the bearings of the cartridges 36. Mounted on the shaft 38 are a pair ofidentical flywheels 39, having counterweights 41, which are keyed to the shaft to prevent relative rotary movement therebe tween. The locations of the flywheels 39 on the shaft 38 are such that they areperipherally enclosed by the cover flanges 34 which therefore act as housings. The shaft 38, also, is provided with a sprocket 42 which is keyed to the shaft so thatrotation of the sprocket will cause rotation of the shaft and its counterweighted flywheels 39. p

A support 43, provided for mounting the driving motor 44, includes two arms 45 and 46 which are each pivotally connected at one of their ends to one side of the bridge 21. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the pivotal connections between the arms 45 and 46 and the bridge 21 each consists of a pair of lugs 47 with a pin 48 extending therebetween for receiving the bushing .49 on the arm- 45, or the bushing 51 on the arm 46. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the lugs147' are split radially to permit clamping of the pins by means of the bolts 52.

The arm 46 consists of a single channel member 53 extendingacross the bridge and having a notch 54 therein to provide clearance between the shaft38 and the arm, see Fig. 2.

The arm 45 consists of a channel shaped member 55, see Fig. 4, having its spaced vertical walls located adjacent to and on opposite sides of the lower portion of the sprocket 42. Each vertical wall of the member 55 is provided with a notch 56 to provide clearance between the shaft 38 and the arm 45. The upper edges of the vertical walls are flanged outwardly for receiving the cover member 57 which forms the upper portion of the arm. The cover 57 is provided with flanged lower edges which rest upon and are connected to the flanges of the channelmember 55 to enclose the upper portion of the sprocket 42. The cover 57 is, also, provided with a notch 58 in the lower margin of each side to provide clearance between theshaft 38 and the cover.

A motor mounting platform 59 is positioned between and connected to adjacent sides of the arms 45 and 46 at their free end portions. A lug 61 is mounted on the downwardly flanged outer end portion of the platform 59 and extends outwardly therefrom into overlying relationship with the adjacent plate 24 to limit pivotal movement of the platform in a downward direction. The lug 61 is mounted on the platform 59 by means of bolts 62 which pass through slots 63 in the lug to permit limited vertical adjustment of the lug on the platform.

Attached to the bottoms of the free end' portions of the arms 45 and 46 is a supporting bracket 64 which in cludes a cylindrical body 65 that extends longitudinally of the bridge 21 and is connected to the arms 45 and 46 beneath the platform 59 by plates 66. The opposite ends of the body 65 terminate inwardly of the stiffening flanges 33 at the bottoms of the vertical plates 32 and each end of the body has mounted thereon a depending bracket arm 67.

As illustrated in Figs. and 7, each of the depending arms 67 includes a vertical plate 68 having an enlarged opening in its upper end portion. through which the body 65 extends. Each vertical plate 68 is connected to the body 65 around the periphery of its opening while the generally vertical edges are provided with inwardly extending stiffening flanges 69. A web 71 extends between and connects the bottom of the body 65 and the inner face of each verticle plate.

At the lower end portion of each arm 67, a second, shorter vertical'plate 72 extends between and is connected to the inner edges of the flanges 69 in parallel relationship with the plate 68. Rectangular openings 73 and 74 are provided in the spaced plates 72 and 68, respectively, at the lower end portion of each arm 67. The opening 73 is slightly higher than the opening 74 so that the clamping. box 75, of rectangular cross section and mounted in the openings, will have its outer end portion slightly downwardly inclined. A mounting post 76 extends outwardly from the plate 68 at a point above the mounting box 75 and a web member 77 is positioned betweenand connected to the post, one side of the outer end portion of the mounting box and the outer face of the plate 63. A second web 78 is connected between the outer face of the plate 68 and the side of the mounting box 75 opposite the web 77.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the outer end portion of the clamping box 75 has its upper and lower walls reinforced by plates 79 and 81, respectively. A single hole is drilled through the upper wall and its associated reinforcing plate 79 and two spaced holes are drilled and tapped in the lower wall and its associated plate 81. Arranged in vertically spaced relationship between the reinforcing plates 79 and 81 are a pair of leaf springs 82, each formed of two leaves. Pads 83 are positioned above and below the inner end of each spring 82 and a spacer plate 84 is positioned between the two adjacent pads of the two springs. Extending downwardly through the hole in the upper wall of the clamping box 75, its associated reinforcing plate 79, and the alined openings in the pads 83, springs 82 and spacing block 84 is a clamping bolt 85 with its lower end portion threaded into a tapped hole in the clamping plate 86 so that tightening of the bolt will clamp the pads, springs and spacer plate between the clamping plate 86 and the reinforcing plate 79. Addi tional clamping force is provided by set screws 87 which are threaded through the tapped holes in the lower wall of the mounting box 75 and its associated reinforcing plate 81 for engagement with the clamping plate 86. The set screws 87 are held in their clamping positions by lock nuts 88.

Each pair of the leaf springs 82 extends outwardly from its clamping box 75 to a position in alinement with the impact shoes 29 and pivot shoes 31 at the adjacent end of the bridge 21. An eye 89 is formed in the outer end of each spring 82 and a bushing 91 is positioned in each eye.

A supporting shoe 92, having spaced side walls 93, is mounted on the outer end of each pair of springs 82 by means of a spring shackle stud 94 that is best illustrated in Fig. 8. The stud 94 is formed of a plate 95 having a pair of threaded pins 96 extending from one side thereof and a single threaded pin 97 extending from the other side thereof. The pins 96 pass through the side walls 93 of the supporting shoe 92 and the bushings 91 in the eyes 89-of the springs 82 to mount the shoe on the springs. The pin 97 extends outwardly from the side of the shoe.

Extending between and connected to the outer end of the mounting post 76 and the pin 97 is a conventional shock absorbing device 98 which functions to dampen vibrations of the shoe 92 relative to its associated arm 67 of the bracket 64.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the motor 44 is positioned on the platform 59 so that its shaft 99 extends into the space enclosed by the cover 57 and channel 55 of the arm 45, The end portion of the shaft 99 is provided with a driving sprocket 101. A chain 102 drivingly conmeets the sprockets 101 and 42 so that operation of the motor will rotate the shaft 38 and its attached flywheels 39. Lateral adjustment of the motor 44 is provided by the take-up screws 103 carried by the platform 59. After the motor 44 has been laterally adjusted by the take-up screws103 to its proper position, the motor is rigidly connected to the platform 59 by the mounting bolts 104 which pass through'the base plate of the motor and through slots, not shown, in the platform 59.

An apertured ear 105 is mounted near the longitudinal center of each side plate 25 and an apertured ear 106 is mounted on each stiflening brace 35 adjacent the cover flange 34 of the bearing support plates 32 so that a hoisting chain or cable may be connected to the vibrator 18 for movement of the latter to and from the tops of cars from which the material is to be discharged.

The operation of the vibrator 18 will be described as follows:

As'illustrated in Fig. l, the vibrator 18 is positioned on the car 13so that the impact shoes 29, pivot shoes 31- positioned, the chains 19 are attached through the holes 28 in the outer retaining plates 26 and are suitably anchored to permit pivotal movement of the vibrator whille maintaining the latter in the desired location on the car 3. a

The motor 44 is, thereafter, energized to effect rotation of the shaft 38 and its counterweighted flywheels 39. The location of the shaft 38 is such that its rotation will cause the bridge to partakeof pivotal movements about the outer extremities of its pivot shoes 31 to deliver repeated impact blows through the impact shoes 29 at the other side of the bridge 21. These impact blows will produce a vibrational movement to the body of the car 13 to effect discharge of the material 17 through the hopper openings 16.

During the above described pivotal movement of the bridge 21, the motor support pivot pins 48 will move through an arcuate path on the impact delivering side of the bridge. The platform 59 of the support 43, however, is resiliently supported on the tops of the side walls of the car 13 by the supporting shoes 92 entirely independently of the bridge 21. The motor support 43, therefore, will merely partake of pivotal movement about the points of contact between the shoes 92 and the tops of the side walls of the car 13. Since the support shoes 92 are resiliently connected to the arms 67 of the bracket 64, the motor 44 is substantially isolated from the effects of the shocks produced by the impact blows delivered to the car 13 by the impact shoes 29 and from any forces transmitted to the supporting shoes 92 by the vibrations developed in the car during its discharge. As was previously pointed out, excessive vibration of the shoes 92 relative to their associated arms 67 is dampened-by the shock absorbers 98. y I

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, is similar to the structure appearing in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, so that corresponding parts of the two modifications have been given the same reference characters. a i

In the modification of Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, webs 107 extend between and are connected to the outer face of the plate 68 of each arm 67 and the outer end portion of the mounting box 75 associated with the plate. The outer edge portions of the webs 107 are provided with stitfening flanges 108. Leaf springs 109, each having four leaves, are mounted in the clamping box 75 in a manner identical to the mounting of the springs 82 of the previously described modification except that the clamping bolt 111 is provided with a guide pin 112 at its lower end portion which passes through the opening 113 in the lower wall of the clamping box 75 and the associated reinforcing plate 81 to properly aline the clamped members in the box.

Separate shackle studs 114 pass through the bushings 115 of the eyes 116 at the outer ends of the springs 109 and through the side walls 93 of the shoes 92 to connect the shoes to the outer ends of the springs. Shock absorbers have been omitted from this modification due to the use of the stiffer springs 109.

The remaining elements and the operation of the modification of Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, are identical to the first described modification and will not be repeated.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claimf 1. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge, mounting means pivotally connected to said bridge for movement about an axis paralleling said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to said mounting means, resilient means carried by said mounting means and extending outwardly from the latter into overlying relationship with the tops of the side walls of the container to support the mounting means directly thereon for cushioned movement of the associated portion of the mounting means with said container and relative to said bridge, and means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart vibratory movements to the bridge.

'2. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge, elongated mounting means pivotally connected at one end portion to one side of said bridge for movement about an axis paralleling said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to the free end portion of said mounting means, resilient means carried by the prime mover supporting end portion of said mounting means and extending outwardly from the latter into overlying relationship with the tops of the side walls of the container to support the mounting means directly thereon for cushioned movementof the prime mover supporting end portion of the mounting means with the container, andmeans drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart vibratory movements to the bridge.

3. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge on the side which delivers said impact blows, a pair of parallel arms extending across said bridge at right angles to said shaft, means pivotally connecting said pair of arms to the impact delivering side of said bridge for movement about a common axis paralleling said shaft, a platform mounted on said arms on the pivot side of said bridge, a prime mover attached to said platform, resilient means extending outwardly from said arms at the pivot side of said bridge into overlying relationship with the tops of the side Walls of the container to be discharged to support the free end portions of said arms and their associated platform directly on and for cushioned movement with the container, and means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart said pivotal movements to the bridge.

4. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge on the side which delivers said impact blows, a mounting base extending across said bridge at right angles to said shaft, means pivotally connecting one end portion of said base to the impact delivering side of said bridge for movement about an axis paralleling said shaft, a prime mover attached to the free end portion of said base on the pivot side of said bridge, spring means extending outwardly from the free end portion of said base into overlying relationship with the t ps of the side walls of the container to be discharged to support the free end portion of the base directly on and for cushioned movement with said container, and means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart said pivotal movement to the bridge.

5. A vibrator for discharging hopperbottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, an unbalanced shaft rotatablymounted longitudinally of said bridge,

mounting means pivotally connected to said bridge for movement about an axis adjacent to and paralleling said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to said mounting means in spaced relationship with said shaft and the pivotal connection of the, mounting means, a bracket fastened to said mounting means adjacent the prime mover, members resiliently connected to said bracket and extending outwardly from the latter into overlying relationship with the tops of the side wallsof the containerto directly support the prime mover attachedportion of the mounting means thereon for cushioned movement with the container and relative to said bridge, and means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart vibratory movements to the bridge.

6. Avibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprisinga bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge on the side which delivers said impact blows, a pair of parallel arms extending, across said bridge at right angles to said shaft, means pivotally connecting said pair of arms to the impact delivering side of said bridge for movement about a common axis paralleling said shaft, a platform mounted on said arms on the pivot side of said bridge, a prime mover attached to said platform, a bracket fastened to said arms adjacent said platform, members resiliently connected to said bracket and extending outwardly from the latter into overlying relationship with the tops of the side walls of the container, adjacent the pivot side, of said bridge to support the platform and its prime mover on the container, and means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart said pivotal movements to the bridge.

7. A vibrator for, discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge,

mounting means pivotally connected to said bridge for movement about an axis paralleling said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to said mounting means in spaced relationship with said shaft and the pivotal connection of the mounting means, a bracket fastened to said mounting means beneath the prime mover, a plurality of leaf spring members attached to said bracket and extending outwardly therefrom longitudinally of said bridge, contact shoes mounted on the outer ends of said leaf spring members in overlying relationship with the tops of the side walls of the container to support themounting means and prime mover. thereon, and means ,drivingly connecting said prime mover, and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart vibratory movements tothe bridge.

8. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers,

comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said cent opposite ends of said bridge, a plurality of leaf,

spring members attached to each of said arms, a contact shoe mounted on the free ends of the leaf spring members of each of said arms in overlying relationship with the tops of the side walls of the container to support the mounting means and prime mover on the container, and

means drivingly connecting said prime mover and saidv shaft for rotating the latter to impart vibratory movement to the bridge.

9. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge,,means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the side walls of the container to be discharged, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge, mounting means pivotally connected at one end portion to one side of said bridge for movement about an axis paralleling said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to the free end portion of said mounting means, a bracket rigidly connected to said mounting means adjacent said prime mover and, extending longitudinally of said bridge, a plurality of leaf spring membersattached to each end of said bracket, and extending longitudinally therefrom, contact shoes mounted on the outer ends of said leaf spring members in overlying relationship with the tops of the opposite side walls of the container to support the mounting means and prime mover on the container independently of the bridge, dampening means connected between said bracket and each of said'shoes to check the vibration of the shoes relative to the bracket, and means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart vibratory movements to the bridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

